The Audiophiliac's holiday gift guide (pictures)

A top-10 list of under-$100 gift ideas.

Read More

Lepai LP-2020A+ Stereo Integrated Amplifier ($22.80)

There's cheap, and then there's dirt cheap -- I'd put the Lepai LP-2020A+ into the latter category. For this kind of money you might expect a flimsy plastic thing, but no, the LP-2020A+ has an all-metal chassis and faceplate. It's tiny, just 1.5 inches tall by 5.5 inches wide by 4.5 inches deep. The 20-watt-per-channel design sounds decent, and I wouldn't rule it out for audiophiles looking for a budget amp for a bedroom or office system.

BBGN2, by BadBadNotGood (free, or pay what you want)

CNET's Justin Yu turned me onto this intense jazz-rock band, and its music has been my constant companion for weeks. The band members are all under 21; you can download their MP3 or high-resolution FLAC files for free or pay what you want.

Muddy Waters, 'Folk Singer' ($3.99)

A fierce studio recording of the blues master from 1963, and Waters sounds incredibly present and vital; no wonder "Folk Singer" is an audiophile classic. Amazon sells the CD for $3.99 and the MP3 download for $9.49. Get the CD.

'To Serve and Groove' (Kindle edition, $6.99)

If you need a little help getting up to speed on computer audio, Oliver A. Masciarotte's book is a terrific resource. He starts with analog audio, progresses to digital, sampling rates, bits, converters, formats, downloads, lossless audio, and lots of other useful tidbits, all written in an easy-to-read style.

Firestone Audio Fireye Headphone Amplifier ($39)

Most so-called "portable" headphone amplifiers aren't small, but the Firestone Audio Fireye Mini is just 1.5 inches by 1 inch by 0.5 inch, and the soft-rubber-shelled amp weighs almost nothing, so you can hang it off your MP3 player or any device with a 3.5mm headphone output. Plugging in a headphone turns the Mini on and lights a bright-blue LED; unplugging turns the amp off.

David Byrne, 'How Music Works' ($15.99, Kindle edition)

David Byrne was in the Talking Heads in the 1970s and 1980s, but he's also worked with in film, photography, opera, and nonfiction writing. He's still searching for new creative challenges, which is more than you can say about most aging rock musicians. Byrne's new book, "How Music Works," reads more like an autobiography than a how-to make it in the music business tome. "How Music Works" is a journey of sorts, with a knowledgeable guide chock-full of personal insights and charm. Don't miss it.

'360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story Book' ($45)

Incredibly enough Columbia Records is 125 years old, and Sean Wilentz's lavishly illustrated coffee-table book documents the label's history. The photos of Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Glenn Gould, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, and many more are a sight to behold. Wilentz delves deep into the history of the company and how it survives in the digital age. Amazon sells it for under $30.

Audio-Technica AT95E Phono Cartridge ($40)

If you're new to playing LPs, here's a tip: the "needle" has a huge effect on the sound of your records. If you're unsure about the condition of your cartridge, or how old it is, I strongly recommend investing in a new cartridge, like this spunky Audio Technica that Amazon sells for around $40.

Dayton Audio Sub-800 Subwoofer ($79)

I've written about Dayton Audio's astonishingly great B652 speakers ($45 a pair on Amazon) a number of times, but this subwoofer is no less impressive. It sports an 8-inch woofer and an 80-watt internal amplifier, but it sounds considerably more powerful than those numbers would imply.

Creative Aurvana Live Headphones ($100)

CNET's David Carnoy found a lot to like about the Creative Aurvana Live Headphones. He wrote, "These are definitely everyman's cans. The headphones offer a nice balance across the highs, mids, and lows -- you don't get a sense that there is any leaning toward a particular spectrum of sound, which is nice for the average listener."